Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence of the Alexs. GAZETTE
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 4, 1887.


TSpecisl Correspondence of the Alexa. GAZETTE
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 4, 1887.
The people in the Senate today who at
tracted the most observation were quar-
tette who occupied the Presidents bench
in the gallery They were the Presidents
wife, Mrs. Folsom, Miss Stienberg and Col.
Wilson Mrs. Cleveland wore wine COL
ored gown with bonnet and trappings to
suit.
The Senate judiciary committee to-day
agreed to amend the House resolution pro.
viding for an investigation of the affairs of
the Northern Pacific Railroad, as follows ::
To authorize the President instead OF the
Secretary of the Interior to appoint the ex-
aminers to give them salary OF 81 $40 IN
stead of S.. 500; providing that during the
investigation the roads shall pay the Gov
eminent 40 instead of 25 per cent. of their
net earnings and authorizing the President
to foreclose if he shall deem such action
conducive to the Governments interest.
The House judiciary committee has
agreed to report adversely upon the
bills providing for the recovery OF internal
revenue taxes and penalties enormously ex-
acted for the redistribution of unclaimed
money in bankrupt and receivers estates,
and for requiring U S. Judges to retire within
one year after the period fixed by law.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Riddleberger
presented the petition of citizens Of South
ampton county, Virginia, for local option in
the District of Columbia. In the House,
yesterday, Mr.. O'FerraA presented the petit
ton of Jonathan Carpenter, of Rappahan-
mock county, Virginia, that his war claim
be referred TO the court Of claims.
The House commerce committee, at their
meeting this morning, agreed TO report ia
vorably resolution authorizing the fish
commission to investigate and report upon
the assertion that star fish are proving dis
astrous to the oyster beds in American wa
lers.
1t is stated at tho War Department to-
dav that the construction of the new
free bridge, without q draw, across
the Potomac on the piers of the Alex
andria canal aqueduct, will be commenced
at as early day as practicable, and that if
draw is to be put in it, Congress will have
to SO direct and make provision for it by
another bill.
The friends of the bill for the redemption
OF the trade dollar, in consequence of he
absence of Mr. Bland, chairman of the cur
rency committee, to-day had the ccnsidera.
ton of that bill postponed from tomorrow
until the 18th inst.
The conference committee to whom has
been referred the anti-Mormon bill ere to
meet this afternoon. 1t is understood that
they will have no difficulty in settling the
differences between the Senate and the
House bills. Both bills are unconstitution-
al, and will probably be so decided by the
U. S. Supreme Court.
A Virginian Just returned from Richmond,
here to day, says Governor Lee never al
thorized the statement that he had deter
mined not to call an extra session of the
legislature. He says that since the Govern
or has returned from st. Paul several of the
leading democratic politicians of the State
have urged him to call an extra session, and
that the probability now is that one will be
called at an early date. Most of the
Virginians here think an extra session of
the legislature, with the present members,
would be worse than foolish. The same
gentleman also says respecting the Virginia
debt, that the indemnfyiDg board intend to
make two or three more attempts TO set at
nought the mandates of tho U. S. Courts,
but that those attempts must necessarily
prove as abortive as all that have preceded
them, and that then the board will go down,
but will probably do 50 working their fin
gers like scissors.
The President has signed the bill provid-
ing for counting the Presidential electoral
vote.
A rumor was ahoat at the Capitol to-day to the
effect that Minister Pendleton would be called to
the State Department, and Mr.. Bayard fill the va
cancy caused by the resignation of Secretary
Manning.
The House Naval committee to-day ag reed to
report fayorably bill providing for the construc-
ton of seven war vessels on the plans already
prepared. two of them to be of the size and mod
el of the 4ark and to have the speed Of nineteen
knots, the work to be done by contract and ap-
propriating $2,450,o00 for commencing thst
work.
The Republican of this city of this morning says
that MIR. Barbour is booming Governor Lee for
the democratic Vice Presidential nomination
in order to remove formidable rival for the
Senate. A friend of Mr.. Barbour, in talking
about this statement said that in the first place
Mr. Barbour was not candidate for any position,
snd that if he were, he is not the sort Of man
to go aLont achieving his object that way.